Port Charlotte has another reason to celebrate. Vito Recchia, owner and pizzaiolo at Bella Napoli Pizzeria & Restaurant, recently brought home an international first-place finish from Sweden.
Port Charlotte Pizza Maker Brings Home Gold
According to the U.S. Pizza Team, Recchia competed at the Pizza Champion Cup International in Gothenburg on Sept. 15 and won first place in the Teglia/Pan Pizza category. According to the U.S. Pizza Team, the victory marked Recchia’s first international title.
That’s a pretty impressive souvenir to bring back to Charlotte County.
A Pizza Inspired by Sweden
As noted by the U.S. Pizza Team, Recchia’s winning Teglia With Magic paired Roman-style dough with Swedish-inspired ingredients including potato cream, crème fraîche, butter-poached langoustine, chanterelles, lingonberry and Västerbottensost cheese. The competition was no casual pizza night, either. According to the U.S. Pizza Team, the sold-out event brought together pizzaioli and chefs from several countries, with a 15-member judging panel that included Michelin-recognized chefs.
From Port Charlotte to International Competition
The Sweden victory follows years of work.
The U.S. Pizza Team also reports that Recchia finished second in the world in Pizza in Teglia at the 2023 World Pizza Championship in Parma, Italy. Today, he serves as a culinary coach for the team while continuing his work here in Charlotte County…